DNR board opposes wild deer as pets

Sep. 27, 2013

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Written by

The Associated Press

MADISON — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources' board doesn't care for the agency's proposal to let people keep wild deer as pets.

Capturing wild animals is illegal in Wisconsin. But the DNR has proposed legislators change state law to let people keep wild deer in pens if they pay fines.

The proposal came after Gov. Scott Walker ordered the agency to come up with ways to avoid euthanizing wild deer people take in.

The Natural Resources Board voted during its meeting in Pembine on Wednesday to adopt a resolution re-affirming that capturing wild animals is illegal and allowing people to retain live deer amounts to privatizing and commercializing the state's free wild deer.

The board voted unanimously, though, to allow DNR workers to return captive deer to the wild.